"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you." - Barack Obama, Election Night 2008
Read the full speech, as prepared for delivery . . .
Over the last twenty-one months, people of faith across the nation have seen how faith guides Barack Obama in his life. Matthew Josten is a student at Taylor University in Indiana who shares why his faith and values have led him to support Barack.
Now is the time to turn your support into a vote. Look up your polling location here. Once you've voted, call others to help them find their polling places and remind them the hours that the polls are open. Working together we can bring about real change.
Barack Obama loves making phone calls. If he has time in his busy schedule to make a stop at a local office on the campaign trail, he always stops by to make some phone calls to undecided voters. This past Sunday he was in Colorado holding Early Vote for Change rallies in Denver and Fort Collins but that didn't stop him from visiting a volunteer office in Brighton.
Contacting voters is one of the most important ways we can reach out to voters during this last week. The McCain campaign is bombarding undecided voters with robocalls full of lies and smears but personal calls from supporters will help spread the truth about Barack's message.Whether you spend 30 minutes or a couple of hours calling voters, one-on-one conversations could help us win some crucial battleground states. Polls open one week from today. With most battleground states in a tie, your phone calls could make the difference and put Barack over the top.Yesterday our supporters beat the goal of 100,000 calls by making 124,000. Today, the goal is to contact 125,000 voters. Call time is 5-9pm local so log on to Neighbor-to-Neighbor and contact undecided voters tonight.
This afternoon, National Field Director Jon Carson sent out this message to supporters:
Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor. Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history. Watch this video and sign up to help get out the vote on Tuesday, November 4th: This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day. We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls. No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th. Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor. Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history.
Watch this video and sign up to help get out the vote on Tuesday, November 4th:
This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day. We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls. No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th.
Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
If you live in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Wisconsin, you can sign up now to volunteer in your community.
If you live elsewhere and are willing to travel to a neighboring battleground state to help out, you can sign up here, or you can sign up to make phone calls on Election Day to help Get Out The Vote.
Barack gave his closing argument speech in Canton, Ohio this morning. During his remarks he told voters that this election is not over. That we have to spend the next eight days working as hard as ever because our future depends on next Tuesday. We have one week to contact voters. One week to spread Barack's message to undecideds. One week to make sure every supporter votes early and brings their friends and family along. One week. We know we can do it. We can do it because, as Barack said this morning, we've been doing it for 21 months.
We began this journey in the depths of winter nearly two years ago, on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Back then, we didn’t have much money or many endorsements. We weren’t given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be. But I also knew this. I knew that the size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics. I believed that Democrats and Republicans and Americans of every political stripe were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, and a new kind of politics – one that favors common sense over ideology; one that focuses on those values and ideals we hold in common as Americans. Most of all, I believed in your ability to make change happen. I knew that the American people were a decent, generous people who are willing to work hard and sacrifice for future generations. And I was convinced that when we come together, our voices are more powerful than the most entrenched lobbyists, or the most vicious political attacks, or the full force of a status quo in Washington that wants to keep things just the way they are. Twenty-one months later, my faith in the American people has been vindicated. That’s how we’ve come so far and so close – because of you. That’s how we’ll change this country – with your help. And that’s why we can’t afford to slow down, sit back, or let up for one day, one minute, or one second in this last week. Not now. Not when so much is at stake.
You can start working for change tonight. Help us by making phone calls to voters across the country. Everyday this week we must contact 100,000 voters daily. We need your help.Take an hour or two out tonight during call time (5-9pm local) and contact voters. Your phone calls will make the difference one week from now.
From the beginning of the general election, strategically, we tried to have as wide of a map as possible. Our belief was we wanted to, on the morning of Nov. 4th, have as many possible avenues to as many electoral votes as possible. And we think we've been able to create that dynamic and have a lot of competitive states in play here. - David Plouffe
national polling averages as of 10/25/08 via pollster.com
With only ten days left, it's become apparent just how wide the election map is. But as the number of competitive states grows larger, so to does the universe of voters that we have to identify, persuade and get to the polls. Now more than ever, we are relying on volunteers in every corner of the country to help execute the field plan we've built over the last 20 months.
Jen O'Malley Dillon, the battleground states director, explained:
We have expected all along that this race is going to tighten up, especially in the battlegrounds states. So we have spent a lot of time building our organizational strengths, building capacity and really focusing on our voter contact and our neighborhood organizations. We really feel that in a number of these states, this election is going to come down to our ground organization and what happens in the final days of the campaign.
In almost two dozen key states, the outcome is very much still up in the air. Over the next ten days, you have an unprecedented opportunity to be part of this effort and to contribute directly to the outcome of this election.
If you live in or near one of the many battleground states, you can connect with a local office and help our field operation on the ground. Face-to-face contact is the most powerful way to get out the vote or persuade undecided voters in battleground states. Sign up today -- state staff are waiting for your help.
This weekend, we're counting on our grassroots phonebankers to make an additional 300,000 calls to voters in key states. As of 7:00 PM Central tonight, you've already made 113,762 calls. Right from your own home, on your own schedule, you can do your part in just an hour or two by calling voters in one of these crucial states. We'll give you the phone numbers and the talking points. It couldn't be easier. You can get your list of targeted voters to call right now.
Finally, supporters will be coming together on Wednesday, October 29th, to watch Barack's national TV appearance and call voters in battleground states. Talking one-on-one with potential fellow voters is one of the easiest and most effective ways for you to make an impact in this election. Find a Last Call for Change house party near you or sign up to host one.
As National Field Director Jon Carson said in an email sent out to supporters tonight, each passing day is an opportunity we'll never have again to change America. You hold this election in your hands.
Polls close in 10 days.
Early voting has started in over half the states already. Barack and Michelle both held early vote rallies in Florida earlier this week. Joe held early vote rallies in Colorado, and Jill will be holding early vote rallies in Florida this weekend. Early voting is an easy way to help the campaign. You secure your vote for Barack, you help the campaign narrow the universe of voters that we have to contact, and you free yourself up to help recruit others to vote. We will be spending a massive amount of time and money on our Get Out The Vote effort, and we need more volunteers than ever before.Barack is in Nevada today to reminded supporters to vote early. And earlier this week he was in Indiana...
If you live in Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Montana, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, West Virginia, Oregon, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Hawaii, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Louisiana, Kansas, New Jersey, or Idaho, early voting has begun. Vote for Barack today.
National Phonebank Coordinator Nicole Aro sent out this message to supporters tonight:
In crucial battleground states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia, the race is neck-and-neck. This weekend, you can help Barack get ahead. In every corner of the country, friends and neighbors are coming together for Last Call for Change phonebanks to call potential supporters in battleground states. There may be one right near you. All you need to do is bring a cell phone -- and some friends -- and we'll take care of the rest.Find a local Last Call for Change phonebank and make a difference this weekend. With Election Day just around the corner, swing voters are getting bombarded with the McCain campaign's lies and distortions. It's more important than ever that supporters like you reach out and share the truth about Barack one-on-one. You can also let voters in battleground states know about important early voting opportunities. It's a great opportunity to get together with friends and fellow supporters and, at the same time, make a difference in a crucial state.Find a phonebank near you and sign up today. Together, we can reach millions of voters, generate historic turnout, and win this election. Thanks, Nicole Nicole Aro National Phonebank Coordinator Obama for America
Millions of people of faith have found hope and promise in Barack's candidacy. Mandy, of Chillicothe, is just one of those people. She wrote this letter to the editor in the Chillicothe Gazette, which clearly and beautifully articulates why she as a person of faith supports Barack:
OBAMA CAN PROVIDE WHAT WE PRAY FOR As a Christian and a member of this community, I would like to publicly show my support for Barack Obama.My answer to why Obama is the clear choice if very simple. God does many works through man, I'm sure most of you will agree. We pray daily for the poor, the homeless, and the ones who go without health care and who have lost their jobs. We pray for their suffering to end and for God to lead them from their troubles into a time of prosperity.God answers prayers, but it's not always the answer we were expecting.Obama has a means to an end for so many of the things that we pray for. Many times there are mountains that we must climb before we can achieve what God has prepared for us. I truly believe that this campaign is just one of those mountains.It is refreshing to see a Democrat like Barack Obama embrace his Christian faith and talk about how it inspires his commitment to public service. Like Gov. Ted Strickland, he understands we are all our brother's keeper. We cannot be a great nation if we do not look out for the least fortunate among us.But he also recognizes that we must demand that all Americans take responsibility for themselves and their families. It's nice to hear a politician talking about turning off the TV and reading to our children.I think Obama has it right, and he's earned my support.
OBAMA CAN PROVIDE WHAT WE PRAY FOR
As a Christian and a member of this community, I would like to publicly show my support for Barack Obama.
My answer to why Obama is the clear choice if very simple. God does many works through man, I'm sure most of you will agree. We pray daily for the poor, the homeless, and the ones who go without health care and who have lost their jobs. We pray for their suffering to end and for God to lead them from their troubles into a time of prosperity.
God answers prayers, but it's not always the answer we were expecting.
Obama has a means to an end for so many of the things that we pray for. Many times there are mountains that we must climb before we can achieve what God has prepared for us. I truly believe that this campaign is just one of those mountains.
It is refreshing to see a Democrat like Barack Obama embrace his Christian faith and talk about how it inspires his commitment to public service. Like Gov. Ted Strickland, he understands we are all our brother's keeper. We cannot be a great nation if we do not look out for the least fortunate among us.
But he also recognizes that we must demand that all Americans take responsibility for themselves and their families. It's nice to hear a politician talking about turning off the TV and reading to our children.
I think Obama has it right, and he's earned my support.
Is faith important to you? Does your belief system play a role in your support for Barack? Whether it does or it doesn't, people of faith in Ohio and across the country play a huge role in Barack's campaign. You can take your support to the next level.
Click HERE join Ohio People of Faith for Obama today.
At the sign up page, you have resources at your fingertips, including this video of Barack in Zanesville, in which he outlines his support for faith-based groups:
On the page you can also:
Join Ohio People of Faith for Obama right now.
Are you an Ohio person of faith for Obama? Let us know in the comments section below.
Every day we put off getting involved is another day lost. Every day we work harder than the day before is a day won. The only way we are going to win this election is our field work -- our on the ground organizing. The most important election of our lifetime will come down to how many volunteers get involved over the next 12 days. Watch this volunteer video from Michigan -- and remember what four years ago felt like.
We can bring change to Washington. We can win this election -- but we can't do it by sitting on the sidelines. You can contact voters from home, volunteer at your local campaign office, knock on doors, travel to battleground states and make sure everyone you know votes early. Visit your state page to see how you can help our Get Out The Vote effort. Your time connecting with voters could make the difference on November 4.
American families are in desperate need of economic relief.
Barack's plan will cut taxes for 95% of working families. John McCain will provide billions in tax breaks for big oil companies and giant corporations with no relief for millions of middle-class Americans.
Barack is calling for three times the tax cuts for middle-class families.
With our country facing the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression -- over 760,000 jobs lost this year, unemployment skyrocketing, and retirement losses exceeding $2 trillion -- we need to take immediate steps to recover.
Forbes writer Brian Wingfield recently used the tax cut calculator and told his readers exactly how much he would save...
...Obama's web page has a very simple gadget that's the most useful thing I've seen on any political website in a while. It's a "tax cut" calculator. You just fill in your income, filing status, whether you're saving for retirement, number of dependents, outstanding mortgage balance, etc and --voila!--it shows you how much you'll save in taxes under an Obama presidency. It tells me that I'm going to keep an extra $1000 of my hard-earned cash if Obama wins. It also tells me I'll save $0 under a McCain presidency.
...Obama's web page has a very simple gadget that's the most useful thing I've seen on any political website in a while.
It's a "tax cut" calculator. You just fill in your income, filing status, whether you're saving for retirement, number of dependents, outstanding mortgage balance, etc and --voila!--it shows you how much you'll save in taxes under an Obama presidency. It tells me that I'm going to keep an extra $1000 of my hard-earned cash if Obama wins. It also tells me I'll save $0 under a McCain presidency.
Watch an Ohio supporter use the tax calculator to see how much he would save and then calculate your own tax cut:
http://taxcut.barackobama.com
New to the site or still undecided? Learn more about Barack Obama and his position on important issues. If you're already a supporter, find out what you can do to help between now and Election Day, and please consider making a donation to strengthen our field operation and help Get Out The Vote.
This morning, the campaign sent out the following message to supporters, along with a link to a special video from Barack. . .
Election Day is exactly two weeks from today. But right now, we're facing an urgent deadline that will determine exactly where we can compete -- and how fiercely -- in the final push. Barack recorded a special video message about why your support is so vital before this Thursday at midnight. Will you watch the video and make a donation before the deadline? On Friday morning, we have to make the final, hard decisions about deploying our resources. Your support will determine how hard we can fight in key battleground states -- and if we can expand our operation into some newly competitive states in the final days. What began in Springfield, Illinois, more than 20 months ago will reach its peak on Tuesday, November 4th. We know what we need to do to win. But it's up to you whether or not we have the resources to fight hard and expand our reach. Thank you for all you've done to bring the campaign this far. Will you watch Barack's message and make a donation before Thursday at midnight? Thank you for everything you're doing, Obama for America
Election Day is exactly two weeks from today. But right now, we're facing an urgent deadline that will determine exactly where we can compete -- and how fiercely -- in the final push. Barack recorded a special video message about why your support is so vital before this Thursday at midnight. Will you watch the video and make a donation before the deadline?
On Friday morning, we have to make the final, hard decisions about deploying our resources. Your support will determine how hard we can fight in key battleground states -- and if we can expand our operation into some newly competitive states in the final days. What began in Springfield, Illinois, more than 20 months ago will reach its peak on Tuesday, November 4th. We know what we need to do to win. But it's up to you whether or not we have the resources to fight hard and expand our reach. Thank you for all you've done to bring the campaign this far. Will you watch Barack's message and make a donation before Thursday at midnight? Thank you for everything you're doing, Obama for America
One-on-one conversations with voters could be what wins the election for Barack. A lot of voters are still undecided and need to know the change Barack is going to bring to Washington.Most importantly, they need to know why you support Barack. By taking the time to talk to someone and tell them your story you could persuade someone to vote for Barack.One of the easiest ways to talk to other people is by using our online Neighbor-to-Neighbor tool. This allows you to call voters in battleground states and talk to them about the issues you care about. Whether it's the economy, education, social security or the war in Iraq, many other Americans are struggling and facing the same situations that you are. Tell them why you are voting for Barack and how we can fix the problems this country is facing.Volunteers in Wisconsin recently recorded a short video with some tips on how to phonebank. It's simple and easy, even if you've never phonebanked before.
Call time (suggested time to call voters) is Monday thru Friday 5-9pm local time. What are you doing tonight? Take some time out to call voters and tell them about Barack. There are only 15 days left to win the election. As Barack says, keep pushing toward the finish line.
Barack has been campaigning for 20 months now. For 20 months he has traveled across the country, from state to state, talking to voters and talking about the change that he will bring to Washington. He'll continue traveling and campaigning over the next 16 days, but now it comes down to us. Michelle was in Minnesota earlier this week, where she explained to the gathered crowd that while Barack has gotten us 85% of the way there, the rest is up to us. We have to knock on doors, call voters, volunteer and most importantly, vote.
We are still in a fight, and the next weeks are going to be crucial to our Get Out The Vote effort. Which is why we need our supporters on the ground to be working as hard as they can over the next 16 days to win. This is the most important election of our lifetimes, and we can't afford to sit on the sidelines. Visit your state page today to learn more about how you can help.
Senator Obama will be a keynote speaker at the Al Smith Dinner tonight. CSPAN will carry the entire event live, and CNN, FOX and MSNBC will carry portions of the dinner. Check your local listings for channel and time information.
Joe Biden will be a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. Check your local NBC listings for channel and time information. Be sure to tune in and watch.
Monday, October 6th is the deadline to register in 17 states.
No matter where you live, if you have three minutes to spare, you can check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and find your early voting site or polling location at VoteForChange.com.
In 2004, George Bush won Nevada by less than 2.5% of voters, New Mexico by less than 1% of voters, and Colorado by less than 100,000 votes. In Ohio, Bush won by just over 100,000 votes -- less than 10 votes per precinct.
This time, we can't leave anything to chance.
This is your choice: three minutes spent registering to vote -- or four years spent wishing that you had.
Even if you are registered, you likely know someone who isn't.
If you have friends or family who support Barack but might not be registered to vote, you can use our online form to let them know about VoteForChange.com. A simple message from you could be the difference between them voting and them staying at home on November 4th.
And that could be the difference in this election.
I want to convey my greetings to the American Muslim community on the Festival of Breaking the Fast that marks the end of Ramadan. Through fasting, prayer and charity, your observance this past month of the universal values of patience, generosity and caring for the less fortunate is an important reminder of the values that have helped make America great. As a nation, we must commit ourselves to that greater cause to ensure that the less fortunate are never forgotten or ignored. On behalf of Michelle, Joe and Jill Biden and I, we hope that Ramadan brought you happiness, good health, and a sense of renewal.
The campaign just issued this press release:
Obama’s Campaign for Change to Hold “Faith, Family & Values” Tour in Southwest and Shenandoah ValleyRICHMOND, Va. – U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change will host its “Faith, Family & Values” tour in communities in the Shenandoah Valley and southwestern Virginia on Monday and Tuesday. The tour will focus on how Obama’s faith has informed his judgment and shaped his perspective on the most urgent problems facing the nation. Dr. Shaun Casey, Obama’s evangelical outreach coordinator, will lead the forums and talk about Obama’s faith how it has shaped his plans to strengthen Virginia families. Casey is a former Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the National Capital Semester for Seminarians (NCSS) at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC., and is the author of The Making of a Catholic President: Kennedy v. Nixon 1960 The tour will kick off in Bristol on Monday – making stops in Marion and Wytheville – and then travel to Pulaski, Lynchburg and Harrisonburg on Tuesday. The forums are free to the public and open to the press. The faith forums are an opportunity for people of faith to come together -- across denominational lines – to talk about how they live their faith outside the four walls of the church, what they want to see from their presidential candidates and how Obama’s faith informs how he thinks about the issues facing Virginia families. The Obama campaign is holding a series of faith forums across the country to engage people of faith and describe how the senator has put his faith into action as an organizer working with church-based organizations on the Southside of Chicago and as a senator in Illinois and the U.S. Congress.
Today, on the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks we, along with our nation, honor the memories of all who suffered a loss on September 11, 2001. We honor and remember each and every life that was lost on September 11, 2001, and grieve with the family and friends who lost a loved one in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA.God of all creation, help us be righteous and strong. Grant your peace and blessings upon all your creation.God, we pray that you unite our hearts by the common bond of justice for all.God, inspire us to give life to a vision that ensures we love, respect and truly care for one another. God, help each of us to recognize You in the face of our neighbors, here and throughout the world.God, may we recognize and honor the diversity You have lovingly planted within each of us and our world community.God, help us to continue to be a country keeping sacred the love of justice and an unending call for unity.God of love, mercy, justice, and peace, bless those who fell on that day, and minister to those who continue to suffer. Help us remember that change requires sacrifice. Help us be mindful that change requires time. In your Divine guidance and wisdom, look over us.
History says, Don’t hope on this side of the grave, but then, once in a lifetime the longed for tidal-wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.So hope for a great sea-change on the far side of revenge. Believe that a farther shore is reachable from here. Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells.
The National Baptist Convention has worked for years to build a community that serves all God’s children, around the world and in our own communities. Thanks to Dr. Shaw and the leaders that came before him, God has built this church into our nation’s oldest and largest Baptist convention. And I’m so proud to be here with you today.
I come here today as a Christian, a person of faith, who believes that we’ve all been called to serve our fellow men and women, and to honor all of God’s creation. I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president. I come here as a daughter, raised on the South Side of Chicago by two of the warmest, hardest-working people I’ve ever known. But most of all, I come here as a mother. Our girls are God’s greatest gift to Barack and me, and a reflection of His grace in our lives every day.
So many of our neighbors are working hard every day, without enough resources, to keep their families and communities strong. So the question we should ask is, shouldn’t we have policies that reflect that reality—that we’re all in this together? Shouldn’t we have policies that express our values, and honor our common humanity? Shouldn’t we have leaders who get it?
Remember what Jesus told us, in one of the greatest speeches ever given, the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “You are the light of the world.” He told us not to hide our light, but to let it shine for all. He was telling us to get involved in this world. To open our hearts and raise our voices and share our hopes with the people around us and to work for as long as it takes to make those hopes come true. That’s what we are called to do today. If we tell all the people in our lives what’s at stake in this election. If we remind them that voting is a responsibility and an opportunity. If we tell them that this time is our time. And if we get everyone we know to vote on November 4th. Then, on Election Day, we will let our light shine. We will build a better future, for our daughters, our sons, our parents and our grandchildren. We will finally bring the change that we need to the country we love. And we will do it together.
